Shah Rukh Khan wants to see electric and driverless cars on Indian roads

Carmakers may be busy unveiling futuristic electric and hybrid cars at the Auto Expo, but what Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan expects on Indian roads in the future is driverless cars. Why? Because children (including his own) are not keen to learn driving, he said.

At the expo as brand ambassador of Korean carmaker Hyundai, Khan said “going electric and driverless cars” are the way forward for the Indian automotive industry.

“There will be less and less of drivers because as these community (shared mobility) services are being offered for buses and cars, less kids are going to learn how to drive,” Khan told journalists on Thursday.

Many discussions lately have revolved around the viability of driverless cars in India. While internationally driverless cars are very much in automakers’ future business plans, in India, the talks have been more around potential loss of jobs. On a lighter note, Khan, a self-confessed auto enthusiast, said that he will continue driving his car.

Khan also talked about his long association with Hyundai, a brand that he has been endorsing for two decades, and his favourite cars. Edited excerpts:

On which Hyundai car suits his styleI saw it one day when I was shooting for a film...it’s called Genesis. I found it to be a very cool car. They promised I will get it but I haven’t (laughs).

On any current Hyundai car that he would like to use for his moviesI’m not reducing it to that but if you are doing an action sequence, with a little bit of moulding attached for safety, it could be Creta.

On his favourite Hyundai carI like Santro. I told them that if they change the name of the new Santro that is coming back, then my third child will be called Santro.

On the first car that he bought when he realised that he has arrived...There came a time within 3-4 years of my career where every essential thing that I could buy to make myself feel that I’ve arrived, I started endorsing it. I didn’t even know brands back then, it was a new car. We had only known Fiats and Ambassadors back then, and not many people knew how to make cars. Also, buying cars was a huge thing. So then this car came and here we are, 20 years later. So I didn’t buy a car, I took a bigger leap and started endorsing it.

​​This comes as a surprise to the industry as Rakesh was recently elevated to the position of Directo Sales and Marketing which was the third promotion for him in six years of his tenure in the company.